Take Step 1 with low score or not at all

[dabears405]

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Is it better to take step 1 and barely pass (in the 200s) or not take it at all and focus on COMLEX? This is for non competitve specialties of course.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

If your practice tests are in the 200, don't take the real test because it's possible to fall. Basically 215 and up you should take it.

Yes, having 200 is better than no USMLE, but that assumes someone that has 215+ practice and had a bad day

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

According to the recent charting outcomes it appears that having a weak Step 1 is better than not having one at all... an example:

In anesthesia the match rate for applicants with a Step 1 between 191-210 is 82.6% (19/23), and the match rate for people with only a COMLEX was 71.4% (25/35)

 

[hallowmann]

Is it better to take step 1 and barely pass (in the 200s) or not take it at all and focus on COMLEX? This is for non competitve specialties of course.

It is better to have a 210+ score for sure. Generally, having a 200-210 is also better than having none. That said, if you go into it with the expectation that you are going to get 200s, then I wouldn't take it, because that is dangerously close to failing, and I would certainly say that failing is worse than no USMLE score at all. I agree that you should be scoring >210 at least consistently on NBMEs before you take the real thing.

 

[ortnakas]

According to the recent charting outcomes it appears that having a weak Step 1 is better than not having one at all

Anecdotally, this is highly dependent on geography. I have friends who had no trouble at all getting interviews in somewhat competitive fields (university IM, rads, gas) with COMLEX only in DO friendly places like Ohio, New York State (not NYC), Florida, and Michigan. On the other hand, I also have friends with solid USMLE scores who struggled last cycle to get anything IM/FM/EM/peds in less-DO-friendly places like California, NYC and Boston.

 

[RaidenXVC]

I also have friends with solid USMLE scores who struggled last cycle to get anything IM/FM/EM/peds in less-DO-friendly places like California, NYC and Boston.

To what extent is this the case? I was always under the impression that California was at least moderately DO friendly, what with having two established schools and a relatively large number of DO's in practice.

I mean, of course I thought that places like Stanford, or the UC schools were hard to match into, but I also thought that was the case for the typical MD graduate as well.

 

[hallowmann]

To what extent is this the case? I was always under the impression that California was at least moderately DO friendly, what with having two established schools and a relatively large number of DO's in practice.

I mean, of course I thought that places like Stanford, or the UC schools were hard to match into, but I also thought that was the case for the typical MD graduate as well.

California is generally one of the more competitive states to match into in general. Its also not particularly DO friendly. It may have a relatively large number of DOs in practice, but the reality is that the percentage of DOs in practice is pretty small relative to the total number of physicians in practice. Its harder to match CA as a DO, so you need to have a more competitive app and preferably take the USMLE, depending on the field.

To give you an idea, applying as a DO to a lot of FM residencies with Step 1 and 2 CK scores netted me only a 40% interview to application rate in CA compared to >90% interview rate in PA, OH, and NY state (didn't apply to NYC). Of note, with the exception of 1-2 programs, those CA programs that offered me interviews were generally the least competitive programs out there. Some of that may have been recognition of my school in the NY, OH, and PA region, but some absolutely was because of general DO unfriendliness/competitiveness of CA residency programs.

I'm sure that being from one of the CA schools or doing rotations in CA increases your chances at getting interviews/matching in CA, and I had none of that, so if you do go to one of those schools, who knows.

 

[dabears405]

re-bumping this thread. Started with 180 on nbme 13 -> few weeks later 192/194 on 15/16. 203 on 17 more than a week ago. Recently took UWSA 1/2 -> 230 / 217 (64% each). Also recently took free 120 (74%) Correct. Should I feel confident to pass? Step is in less than a week

 

[W19]

re-bumping this thread. Started with 180 on nbme 13 -> few weeks later 192/194 on 15/16. 203 on 17 more than a week ago. Recently took UWSA 1/2 -> 230 / 217 (64% each). Should I feel confident to pass? Step is in less than a week

I think your score will be in the ballpark of 205-215. Whether that's good enough depends on the specialty you are applying to... I would not take the risk if you are ok with FM and community IM.

 

[Black Coffee 24/7]

re-bumping this thread. Started with 180 on nbme 13 -> few weeks later 192/194 on 15/16. 203 on 17 more than a week ago. Recently took UWSA 1/2 -> 230 / 217 (64% each). Also recently took free 120 (74%) Correct. Should I feel confident to pass? Step is in less than a week

I would take it. You got nothing to lose bc a Comlex only scorer is limited to FM or IM anyway, but a 210+ USMLE will open doors.

Review all of your stuff. Get a good night sleep. Take it and dgaf afterward.

If I have to make an assessment on your Step 1, it will be:

10% of scoring 196-200
50-60% scoring 200-215
10-15% of scoring 215-225
5-10% of scoring 225+

 

[dabears405]

I would take it. You got nothing to lose bc a Comlex only scorer is limited to FM or IM anyway, but a 210+ USMLE will open doors.

Review all of your stuff. Get a good night sleep. Take it and dgaf afterward.

I will probably take it, but I am hesistant knowing I scored low on the NBMEs granted they were more than 2 weeks ago and I know the one I took recently are more accurate. I will take nbme 18 and see how I do.

 

[DrGmytheboss]

re-bumping this thread. Started with 180 on nbme 13 -> few weeks later 192/194 on 15/16. 203 on 17 more than a week ago. Recently took UWSA 1/2 -> 230 / 217 (64% each). Also recently took free 120 (74%) Correct. Should I feel confident to pass? Step is in less than a week

Hi, I would really appreciate if you share how was your usmle?
I am almost in the same shoes and planning to take it in 3 days
thank you